Combination drapery support

ABSTRACT

Sturdy, stable overhead arm and slide support is provided for overriding an under drape heading and mounting an over drape from a combination drapery supporting rod track structure which has functionally integral tracks for under drape and over drape slides. The track structure includes a bar having a rearward opening and respective upwardly and downwardly opening spaced track grooves therein accessible through the opening for stabilizing engagement by runner means of the arm and slide support.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,871,082 Pfluin Mar. 18, 1975COMBINATION DRAPERY SUPPORT 3,795,940 3/1974 Di Mascio 16/94 13 x [76]lnventorz' August S. Pflum, 5111 S. Rockwell, FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS ChlCagO, II]. 60632 559,246 1 1957 Belgium 16/87 2 559,2427/1957 [22] Filed. July 5,1972 251,227 12/1966 [21] Appl. No.: 269,163917,798 2/1963 474,247 6/1969 Switzerland 16/8712 [52] US. Cl161/g'/'9.i,Dl6/1867.945% ll66/9936% Primary Examiner ROy D Frazier 51 It Cl 1 E65 d /02 Assistant Examiner-William E. Lyddane Attorney, Agent,or Firm Hin, Gross Simpson Van Fleld of Search s Santen, Steadman Chiara& Simpson 16/93 D,94 D,87.4 R, 93 R,94 R, 95 R; I

160545447 57 ABSTRACT [56] References'Cited Sturdy, stable overhead armand slide support is pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided for overriding anunder drape heading and l 794 S89 7H9) Wolfe 16/95 R mounting an overdrape from a combination drapery {g k Angel R supporting rod trackstructure which has functlonally 2/1956 r integral tracks for underdrape and over drape slides. 21971213 2/1961 Johnson 16/872 e trackStructure includes a bar having rearward 3,065,334 11/1962 Hlilenbrilndet 61. 16/96 R opening and r pe tive upwardly and downwardly 3,098,5207/1963 Greenstadt et a1. 16/95 D X opening spaced track grooves thereinaccessible 3,273,197 9/1966 Ford 16/96 D X through the pening forstabilizing engagement by 3,497,905 3/1970 runner means of the arm andslide support. 3,667,531 6 1972 3,697,035 10/1972 7 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures 3,698,035 10/1972 Z9 5 M 2 Z/ 1E5 L 20 9 a I l7 /4 7, 3/ 27 9 25i 24 PATENTED 1 1975 COMBINATION DRAPERY SUPPORT This invention relatesto the hanging of drapery, and is more particularly concerned with newand improved means for supporting an over drape relative to an underdrape from a combination drapery supporting bar pro vided withfunctionally integral tracks for under drape slides and over drapesslides.

Because of the fairly severe cantilever stresses on the running means ofthe overhead over drape supporting slides in a combination draperysupporting bar or track structure, some problem has been encounteredheretofore in the matter of sturdiness and stability, and the presentinvention is directed to the efficient, practical solving of theproblems thus encountered.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved over drape supporting means for combinationdrapery assemblies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedoverhead drapery supporting track and slide structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improvedsupporting means for a drapery slide of the overhead type.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing althoughvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thespirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a drapery mounting embodyingfeatures of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end sectional, elevational view of the mountingshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a drapery assembly embodyingfeatures of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one of the overhead, overdrape supporting slides taken substantially along the line IVIV of FIG.2.

According to the present invention, new and improved members which maybe variously identified as carriers, glides, sliders, or slides 5 aresupported by new and improved drapery rod or bar or track means 7 tocarry an over drape 8 through the medium of hooks 9 in front an underdrape 10 which is supported through the medium of hooks 11 by suitableslides 12 which are also supported by the track means 7. Theconstruction and relationship are such that the under drape 10, which iscustomarily disposed outwardly relative to the enclosure or room andnearest a window, has its heading, which may be buckram reenforced andpleated if desired, extending upwardly in concealing relation to thetrack means 7. The over drape 8 is located inwardly in front of and inconcealing relation to the under drape. While both of the drapes 8 and10 may be adapted to be drawn closed and open at will, the under drapemay, if preferred, be of the non-drawable type while the over drape 8may be of the drawable type.

Mounting and support of the slides 5 by the track means 7 is such thatwhen the over drape 8 is opened, removed, or absent the heading of theunder drape 10 remains in concealing relation to the track means. Whenthe slides 5 are operatively present, they are supported in a manner tobe free from any intereference with the under drape heading. Further,the slides 5 support the over drape 8 in a manner enabling easy drawingof the over drape into open or closed position, in-

eluding attendant folding and unfolding thereof between the slides andrelative to the under drape 10.

In a desirable, improved construction, each of the over drape slides 5includes an elongated cantilever supporting arm 13 of a suitable lengthto extend in overhead relation forwardly, i.e. inwardly, from the trackmeans 7 in spaced relation above the upper edge of the under drapeheading and to a sufficient extent forwardly therefrom to support theover'drape 8 in the preferred forwardly spaced relation from the underdrape 10. By preference the arm has at its forward end an integraldepending hanger flange 14 provided with a hook aperture 15 receptive ofthe hooked head portion of the drapery hook 9. On its rear end portion,the arm 13 has a slider structure comprising a depending integral flange17 provided with tracking means engageable in running stabilizedrelation with the track means 7. Desirably the arm 13 and the flanges 14as well as the slider structure flange 17 are constructed from asuitable gage sheet metal as a stamping, with a longitudinally extendingmedian reenforcing rib 18 extending throughout the length of the arm 13and into the flange 14 with a reenforcing gusset 19 across the bendbetween the arm and flange, and also extending I throughout the lengthof the flange 17 with a reenforcing gusset 20 of substantial depthacross the bend between the arm and the flange 17.

For tracking engagement with the track structure 7, the slider flange 17is provided with means for supporting slide means comprising a pluralityof slide members 21 which are desirably in the form of small wheel disksmade from suitable material such as nylon. One of the disks 21 iscarried operatively on a spacer 22 secured to or comprising part of areturn bent integral flange 23 on the lower end of the flange 17 (FIGS.2 and 4) and into which the reenforcing rib 18 extends with areenforcing gusset 24 across the bend between the flanges 17 and 23. Inthe illustrated example, two additional of the slider wheels 21 areprovided respectively on the upper sides of trolley arms 25 whichproject in respectively opposite directions normal to the axis of thearm 13 in a common horizontal plane spaced below the arm 13 andintegrally connected with the flange 17 through respective angularconnecting portions 27 one of which is shorter'than the other byslightly more than the widths of the arms 25' to provide an offsetrelation of the arms for interdigitation of the arms as indicated indash outline in FIG. 4 to enable close and evenside-by side touchingproximity of the connection portions of contiguous ones of the slides 5when drawing the supported drape open. Desirably, though notnecessarily, the slide members 21 are rotatably mounted as by means ofsuitable pintles 28.

Thoroughly stable support of the slides 5 on the track means 7 iseffected through the balanced relationship of the slide members 21wherein the upper and lower of the members are substantially spacedapart and the lower of the members 21 is located in the median verticalplane of the slide assembly 5 and the upper of the members 21 arelocated in balanced, substantially equidistant relation substantiallyextending to opposite sides of such plane. Thereby an especially sturdy,efficient running relationship is effected with the track means 7provided in a preferred unitary hollow rearwardly opening track bar form29 adapted to be constructed as an aluminum extrusion. Within the bar 29are provided complementary tracks for the members 21, including anupwardly opening longitudinally extending track groove 30 for the lowerof the members 21 and respective parallel downwardly openinglongitudinal track grooves 31 complementary to the upper of the members21. Relative location of the track grooves 30 and 31 is such that themembers 21 ride therein freely, with the vertical front and rear sidewalls defining the grooves providing rail surfaces for the perimeters ofthe antifriction members 21 and the roots of the grooves, especially theroot of the groove 30, providing upwardly facing rail surfaceconfronting the faces of the members 21. Through this arrangement, freeand easy travel of the slider structures of the slides is enabled alongthe track bar 29 and cantilever forces upwardly or downwardly on theslide arm 13 as well as lateral canting forces are readily and easilyresisted without binding or undo frictional resistances and operation issmooth and quiet.

In addition to the over drape slide rails provided by the bar 29, italso provides a hollow longitudinally extending rearwardly openinggenerally C-shaped cross section track 32 for the under drape slides 12,as shown (FIG. 2).

If preferred, of course, the under drape may be supported for manualdrawing. However, draw cords 33 therefor may be provided to run throughthe longitudinal passage provided within the track 32. Similarly,although the over drape 8 may be supported for manual drawing ormanipulation, draw cords 34 may be provided therefor, as shown.Operation of the draw cords may be provided for and effected in theusual or any preferred manner to draw the respective drapes between openand closed conditions.

By having the sides of the over drape slide arms 13 tapered from widestat their rear ends to narrower at their front ends, a desirablerelationship is attained when the over drape 8 is drawn open, in that,as shown in FIG. 3, the folds of the drape are accommodated between theseveral arms 13 without pinching or lateral or canting deflection of thearms when the slides 5 are in contiguity and especially while theterminal slide to which the draw cords are attached applies lateraldrape opening thrust through the successively contiguous of the slideswhich can thus apply the thrust directly against the sides of the slideror trolley portions of the slides free from interference from the drapefolds between the arms 13.

Attachment of the drapery bar 29 in operative relation over a windowopening is adapted to be effected in any preferred manner, such as bymeans of one or more mounting brackets 35 each of which is securedthereto as by means of a screw 37 and secured as by means of a screw 38to a support 39 such as a room surface. lt will be understood thatsimilar bracket structure is provided at each opposite end of thedrapery bar structure, whether the bar structure is of the single lengthtype or of the telescopically adjustable type to accommodate mounting inor across window openings of variable width.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts ofthis invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. An assembly for supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising:

a cantilever arm including a rear, end portion and a 7 front end portionfrom which an over drape is adapted to be suspended;

a slider structure on the rear end portion of said arm including aplurality of spaced slide members adapted for engagement in stabilizingsupporting relation in respective tracks of drapery bar means;

said arm comprising a stamped sheet metal member having a front enddepending flange with a hole therein for engagement by a drapery hook;

said rear end portion of the arm having a depending flange carrying saidplurality of spaced slide members;

said rear end depending flange having a plurality of forwardly extendingspaced projections carrying the respective slide members and including alower end forwardly projecting flange carrying one of said slide memberson its lower side; and

a pair of forwardly extending projections on said rear end flangebetween said lower flange extension and said arm and having laterallyextending trolley arms carrying respective ones of said slide members ontheir upper sides.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said trolley arms arerelatively offset to permit interdigitating thereof with the trolleyarms of adjacent assem blies supporting a drape.

3. An. assembly according to claim 1, wherein said slide members arerotatably mounted on vertically extending pintles.

4. An assembly for supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising:

a drapery bar having along a rear side thereof vertically spaced trackmeans comprising an upper downwardly oriented track and a lower upwardlyoriented track;

a slide having an elongated arm overlying said bar and including a rearend portion and a front end portion from which an over drape is adaptedto be suspended;

said rear end portion of the arm having a flange depending at the rearside of the bar and provided with forwardly extending projection meansbetween said tracks;

said forwardly extending projection means having upwardly extendingantifriction roller means rotatably mounted on vertical axes andengaging in running relation with said downwardly oriented track, saidprojection means also having downwardly extending antifriction rollermeans rotatably mounted on a vertical axis and engaging in runningrelation with said upwardly oriented track, one of said antifrictionroller means being located a substantial distance to one side of avertical plane through the axis of said arm and another of saidantifriction roller means being located a substantial distance to theopposite side of said plane; whereby the antifriction roller meanssupport the arm in stabilized relation over the top of said bar with thefront end portion of the arm extending forwardly from the bar to supportthe over drape.

5. An assembly for supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising:

a drapery bar having along a rear side thereof vertically spaced trackmeans comprising an upper downwardly oriented track and a lower upwardlyoriented track;

a slide having an elongated arm including a rear end portion and a frontend portion from which an over drape is adapted to be suspended;

said rear end portion of the arm having a flange depending at the rearside of the bar and provided with forwardly extending projection meansbetween said tracks; and

said forwardly extending-projection means having upwardly extendingantifriction slide means engaging in running relation with saiddownwardly oriented track and downwardly extending antifriction meansengaging in running relation with said upwardly oriented track;

said projection means including a forwardly extending lower end flangeextension and a pair of forwardly extending projections above said lowerend flange extension and below said arm and carrying respective ones ofsaid slide means;

said pair of projections having respective laterally extending trolleyarms carrying respective ones of said slide means thereon;

said laterally extending trolley arms being relatively offset to permitinterdigitating thereofwith the similar trolley arms of other assembliessupporting an over drape;

whereby the slide means support the arm in stabilized relation over thetop of said bar with the front end portion of the arm extendingforwardly from the bar to support the over drape.

6. An assembly for supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising:

A drapery bar having along a rear side thereof vertically spaced trackmeans comprising an upper downwardly oriented track and a lower upwardlyoriented track;

a slide having an elongated arm including a rear end portion and afrontend portion from which an over drape is adapted to be suspended;

said rear end portion of the arm having a flange depending at the rearside of the bar and provided with forwardly extending projection meansbetween said tracks;

said forwardly extending projection means having upwardly extendingantifriction slide means engaging in running relation with saiddownwardly oriented track and downwardly extending antifriction meansengaging in running relation with said upwardly oriented track, one ofsaid slide means projecting a substantial distance to opposite sides ofa vertical plane through the axis of said arm;

said bar being of generally channel shape and having an opening alongits rear side and provided there- 6 within with an upwardly openinglower groove track longitudinally therealong and a plurality ofdownwardly opening upper groove tracks longitudinally therealong abovesaid upwardly opening groove track; said projection means extending intosaid opening;

and said slide means located to engage respectively in said groovetracks; whereby the slide means support the arm in stabilized relationover the top of said bar with the front end portion of the arm extendingforwardly from the bar to support the over drape.

7. An assemblyfor supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising: 7

a drapery bar-having along a rear side thereof vertically spaced trackmeans comprising downwardly opening upper track means and upwardlyopening lower track means; both of said upper and lower track meanshaving spaced front and rear vertical side walls defining groovestherebetween; a slide having an elongated arm closely overlying said barand including a front end portion for supporting an over drape and arear end portion having a flange depending at the rear side of the barand provided with forwardly extending projection means between saidtrack grooves; first antifriction slide means carried by said forwardlyextending projection means engaging in running relation with saiddownwardly opening upper track means;

second antifriction slide means carried by said projection means andengaging in running relation with said upwardly opening lowertrack-means;

all of said antifriction slide means riding between and 7 beingengageable with the respective. vertical groove walls of said trackmeans in running therealong; said first slide means engaging in saiddownwardly opening upper track means at substantially spaced respectiveopposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said arm; and said upwardlyopening lower track means having an upwardly facing rail surface betweenthe groove walls thereof for engagement by said second slide means;whereby the slide means support the arm in stabilized running spacedrelation over the'top of said bar with the front end portion of the armextending forwardly from the bar to support the over drape.

1. An assembly for supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising: a cantilever arm including a rear end portion and a frontend portion from which an over drape is adapted to be suspended; aslider structure on the rear end portion of said arm including aplurAlity of spaced slide members adapted for engagement in stabilizingsupporting relation in respective tracks of drapery bar means; said armcomprising a stamped sheet metal member having a front end dependingflange with a hole therein for engagement by a drapery hook; said rearend portion of the arm having a depending flange carrying said pluralityof spaced slide members; said rear end depending flange having aplurality of forwardly extending spaced projections carrying therespective slide members and including a lower end forwardly projectingflange carrying one of said slide members on its lower side; and a pairof forwardly extending projections on said rear end flange between saidlower flange extension and said arm and having laterally extendingtrolley arms carrying respective ones of said slide members on theirupper sides.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said trolleyarms are relatively offset to permit interdigitating thereof with thetrolley arms of adjacent assemblies supporting a drape.
 3. An assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said slide members are rotatably mountedon vertically extending pintles.
 4. An assembly for supporting an overdrape in front of an under drape, comprising: a drapery bar having alonga rear side thereof vertically spaced track means comprising an upperdownwardly oriented track and a lower upwardly oriented track; a slidehaving an elongated arm overlying said bar and including a rear endportion and a front end portion from which an over drape is adapted tobe suspended; said rear end portion of the arm having a flange dependingat the rear side of the bar and provided with forwardly extendingprojection means between said tracks; said forwardly extendingprojection means having upwardly extending antifriction roller meansrotatably mounted on vertical axes and engaging in running relation withsaid downwardly oriented track, said projection means also havingdownwardly extending antifriction roller means rotatably mounted on avertical axis and engaging in running relation with said upwardlyoriented track, one of said antifriction roller means being located asubstantial distance to one side of a vertical plane through the axis ofsaid arm and another of said antifriction roller means being located asubstantial distance to the opposite side of said plane; whereby theantifriction roller means support the arm in stabilized relation overthe top of said bar with the front end portion of the arm extendingforwardly from the bar to support the over drape.
 5. An assembly forsupporting an over drape in front of an under drape, comprising: adrapery bar having along a rear side thereof vertically spaced trackmeans comprising an upper downwardly oriented track and a lower upwardlyoriented track; a slide having an elongated arm including a rear endportion and a front end portion from which an over drape is adapted tobe suspended; said rear end portion of the arm having a flange dependingat the rear side of the bar and provided with forwardly extendingprojection means between said tracks; and said forwardly extendingprojection means having upwardly extending antifriction slide meansengaging in running relation with said downwardly oriented track anddownwardly extending antifriction means engaging in running relationwith said upwardly oriented track; said projection means including aforwardly extending lower end flange extension and a pair of forwardlyextending projections above said lower end flange extension and belowsaid arm and carrying respective ones of said slide means; said pair ofprojections having respective laterally extending trolley arms carryingrespective ones of said slide means thereon; said laterally extendingtrolley arms being relatively offset to permit interdigitating thereofwith the similar trolley arms of other assemblies supporting an overdrape; whereby the slide means support the arm in sTabilized relationover the top of said bar with the front end portion of the arm extendingforwardly from the bar to support the over drape.
 6. An assembly forsupporting an over drape in front of an under drape, comprising: Adrapery bar having along a rear side thereof vertically spaced trackmeans comprising an upper downwardly oriented track and a lower upwardlyoriented track; a slide having an elongated arm including a rear endportion and a front end portion from which an over drape is adapted tobe suspended; said rear end portion of the arm having a flange dependingat the rear side of the bar and provided with forwardly extendingprojection means between said tracks; said forwardly extendingprojection means having upwardly extending antifriction slide meansengaging in running relation with said downwardly oriented track anddownwardly extending antifriction means engaging in running relationwith said upwardly oriented track, one of said slide means projecting asubstantial distance to opposite sides of a vertical plane through theaxis of said arm; said bar being of generally channel shape and havingan opening along its rear side and provided therewithin with an upwardlyopening lower groove track longitudinally therealong and a plurality ofdownwardly opening upper groove tracks longitudinally therealong abovesaid upwardly opening groove track; said projection means extending intosaid opening; and said slide means located to engage respectively insaid groove tracks; whereby the slide means support the arm instabilized relation over the top of said bar with the front end portionof the arm extending forwardly from the bar to support the over drape.7. An assembly for supporting an over drape in front of an under drape,comprising: a drapery bar having along a rear side thereof verticallyspaced track means comprising downwardly opening upper track means andupwardly opening lower track means; both of said upper and lower trackmeans having spaced front and rear vertical side walls defining groovestherebetween; a slide having an elongated arm closely overlying said barand including a front end portion for supporting an over drape and arear end portion having a flange depending at the rear side of the barand provided with forwardly extending projection means between saidtrack grooves; first antifriction slide means carried by said forwardlyextending projection means engaging in running relation with saiddownwardly opening upper track means; second antifriction slide meanscarried by said projection means and engaging in running relation withsaid upwardly opening lower track means; all of said antifriction slidemeans riding between and being engageable with the respective verticalgroove walls of said track means in running therealong; said first slidemeans engaging in said downwardly opening upper track means atsubstantially spaced respective opposite sides of the longitudinal axisof said arm; and said upwardly opening lower track means having anupwardly facing rail surface between the groove walls thereof forengagement by said second slide means; whereby the slide means supportthe arm in stabilized running spaced relation over the top of said barwith the front end portion of the arm extending forwardly from the barto support the over drape.